Police Investigation at UVA Finds No Evidence of Rape

But police also say the case isn't closed yet.

An investigation into a UVA student's claims that she was raped at a fraternity party in 2012 turned up no evidence that a rape occurred, Charlottesville police say. They said they are suspending the inquiry but not closing it, and that while some sort of assault may have occurred, the alleged victim refused to cooperate.

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"I can't prove that something didn't happen, and there may come a point in time in which this survivor, or this complaining party or someone else, may come forward with some information that might help us move this investigation further," police chief Timothy Longo told reporters, according to The New York Times.

"That doesn't mean that something terrible did not happen to Jackie on the evening of Sept. 28, 2012," he clarified. And, he said, "This case is not closed by any stretch of the imagination."

The story of the alleged gang rape made headlines last year, after Rolling Stone magazine published a long article detailing the student's story of being assaulted. The magazine, though, did not independently corroborate several crucial aspects of the story, which they say was out of respect for the student. An investigation into the magazine's own practices is ongoing and expected to be published next month.

UPDATE: In a statement, Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring said, "I appreciate the diligence, professionalism, and compassion shown by Chief Longo and his officers in thoroughly investigating this situation. We know that sexual violence is a real problem on college campuses and we have not wavered in our commitment to addressing it. I have been proud to chair Governor McAuliffe's Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Violence, and in just a few weeks, we will present him with recommendations to improve the way we prevent and respond to reports of sexual violence on Virginia campuses. This issue will not, and should not, be pushed back into the shadows."

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